Bobby's Info
Bobby McCosky is an improviser, actor, and instructor out of Kansas City,MO. He is the General Manager of The Improv Shop KC, as well as the former head of the KC Improv Company's training center. Between those two ventures, he has coached hundreds of students.Bobby is also a member of indie teams That's No Movie, and Babies, as well as a founder of the film production company Bird in the Middle. Bobby has had long term coaching from improviser's from around the country over the last 5 years, and considers himself an amalgamation of various schools of thought. He can teach UCB style game play, the movie format, the Harold, as well as individual classes focused on specific topics like heightening, playing the "straight-man", and more.
Previous instructor's Bobby has learned under include Kevin Mullaney(former head of the UCB NY training center), James Mastraieni (UCB LA, iO, host of the podcast I'm Too Effing High), Danny Mastrangelo (UCBLA,ioWest, Pack Theater), and more. Bobby has performed at the Chicago Improv Festival, the Del Close Marathon, the Omaha Improv Festival, and the Compass Improv Festival.
Feel free to email him for specifically focused classes, or topics, as well as specific improv forms.
For more info: http://https://yeslabyrinth.tumblr.com/
"When you are in grade school or even high school, you have that one teacher that makes all the stuff, all the learning make sense. That teacher that reaches inside you to make you the very best at it. I am an improv novice, but very passionate about learning and growing in my understanding of this art. Bobby takes the time to share his ideas and others in a way that makes it make sense, that makes you want to get back on stage, or try a new format... oh and he has these magical notebooks" - Elizabeth Ramirez Ault
" I've taken many classes and workshops; had multiple team coaches and rehearsals, and I will always seek out Bobby McCosky for coaching first because 1) Bobby approaches teaching with a well-articulated (and well-planned) vision for each session. Whether learning a new format, or rehearsing a long-time team format, Bobby carefully plans what the best rehearsal for us will be THAT DAY. It's not a cookie-cutter approach (though I know he loves baking :D). Rather, his lesson plans reflect the spirit and progress of the group he is teaching. 2) Bobby fosters a community of support and regular communication with individual teams AND the wider improv community. He's always looking for ways to bring different improvisers together. 3) He also actually answers emails sometimes. It's so rare, really. Not everyone who wants to teach is a good fit for teaching just because they WANT to, or need the extra income. Bobby takes his role seriously and follows through, and so many teams in Kansas City are benefiting and growing and becoming the best they can be because of him." - Jill Gillespie
"Bobby is one of Kansas City’s best teachers of comedy improvisation. He cares deeply about Improv, and it shows. Watching Bobby onstage is indeed a sweet treat. He is a true team player and is always full of surprises. I have taken several classes with Bobby and cannot wait to take more. As a teacher he is perfectly balanced between academic criticism and practical engagement, and I have rarely seen a theatre teacher who so naturally understands how to structure class time in such a way that is simultaneously physically engaging and intellectually provocative. Bobby magically balances priorities in such a way as to make it look easy, but his classes tell, based on his regular responses, that he is purposefully thoughtful, kind, and considerate, and has obviously spent a lot of time thinking about improvisation’s best practices as well as the best ways to teach them. In short, he cares about accurately navigating the many facets of this captivating art form and creating space so others can do the same." - Joshua Busick